Wodecki, Owls Slam MCLA in Twinbill

WESTFIELD, Mass.  –  Westfield State softball emptied the bat rack on Monday, as the Owls scored 30 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.   Westfield won game 1,12-4 in six innings, and game 2 by an 18-2 final in five innings, with both games shortened by the eight-run rule.

In the opener the Owls got homers from Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire) and Sarah Hough (Southwick, Mass.).  Wodecki finished 3-3 with two runs scored and four RBI.  Hough finished with three hits and three RBI, and Abby Clark (Uxbridge, Mass./Blackstone) roped three doubles and drove in three runs.

Starter Katherine Canty (Natick, Mass.) (W, 4-2) picked up the win, working four innings, while Stephanie Scoville (Northfield, Mass./Pioneer Valley)  tossed the final two innings to record her fifth save this season.

For MCLA, Maggie Closinski (Rome, NY/RFA) was 1-3 with two rbi.  Starter Sarah Williams (Stephentown, NY/New Lebanon) (L, 4-9) worked six innings in taking the pitching loss.

In the nightcap, Wodecki added a grand-slam home run as part of a 3-5 performance, driving in seven runs and scoring two.   She was a combined 6-8 at the plate with 11 rbi in the doubleheader.  She now has six home runs on the season (one shy of the school single-season record), and three homers in her last four games. Wodecki is batting .489 for the season and has now tied the school record for season RBI with 40

Abby Clark added three more hits with two triples and a double; her sister Alyssa Clark (Uxbridge, Mass./Blackstone) homered and singled to give the family a cycle at the plate for the game.   Abby finished the twin bill with four doubles and two triples.

Canty (W, 4-2) again drew the start and earned the win with Gianna Conte (Greenfield, Mass.) tossing two scoreless innings of relief.

For MCLA starter Lora Woyton (Attleboro, Mass.) (L, 2-8) worked three innings and was saddled with the loss.   Ella Staffier  (Marshfield, Mass.) finished 2-3 at the plate with a run scored and a stolen base.  Closinski added a double.

Westfield State is now 18-7-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference, and now sits in first place, a one game ahead of Framingham State in the loss column.  The Owls have won five straight in conference play.   MCLA dips to 6-19 and 0-8 in the league.

Westfield will be back in action on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Albertus Magnus at 3:00 p.m. at the Westfield State softball field.